Hussein al-Khawaja, chairman of the land transport committee at the Al-Ahsa Chamber, said the agreement to build a high speed electric passenger railway between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the largest modern infrastructure venture ever undertaken by two Gulf states, ushers in a new chapter of economic and logistics integration.
He said the line will spur the movement of goods and travelers, energize commercial and tourism flows, strengthen cross border supply chains through more resilient logistics solutions, and lift bilateral trade by shortening delivery times and trimming the edges of operating costs.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the deal represents a major strategic leap within both countries’ efforts to deepen economic cooperation and developmental integration, cement social ties, and support sustainable development paths under Saudi Vision 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030.
Al-Khawaja said the project will redefine travel between the two countries. It will give passengers and investors broader, faster and more flexible routes connecting business hubs and global aviation centers, with a capacity exceeding ten million passengers a year.
He said the venture’s projected economic return of about 115 billion riyals to the combined gross domestic product underscores its position as one of the most significant strategic projects driving regional development.
It is expected to generate around thirty thousand direct and indirect jobs in Saudi Arabia and Qatar during construction and operation.
Addressing the impact on Al-Ahsa, al-Khawaja said the project will help turn the province into a pivotal logistics and commercial corridor that links Gulf economies.
It will strengthen intra Gulf trade and economic integration and open the door to major infrastructure investments, reinforcing Al-Ahsa’s standing as a key geographic and strategic location and a promising commercial and logistics center.
He added that the railway will bolster the local economy’s capacity and growth, create new jobs, lower transport costs for goods and passengers, support the logistics sector and supply chains, spur local manufacturing, attract investment, reduce maintenance costs and expand tourism, while building a more competitive, integrated and sustainable economic landscape.
